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(N6 Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

\ LpM. MOLAREN.

DEVICE FOR LIFTING GOODS FROM SHBLVBS.

Patented Nov. 29, 187.-

N. PETERS. Phol rLithogn-xpher. Washin (No Model.

) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. M. MQLAREN. DEVICE FOR LIFTING GOODS FROM SHELVE S.

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ilNITnD STATES PATENT Fries.

LANNES M. MOLAREN, OF CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR LIFTING GOODS FROM SHELVES.

SPECIFICATION forming pair. of Letters Patent No. 373,939, dated November 29, 1887.

Application filed August 6, 1887. Serial No. 246,353. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, LANNES M. IVIOLAREN, of Crescent City, Del Norte county, State of California. have invented an Improvement in Devices for Lifting Goods from Shelves; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a new and useful machine, apparatus, or device the object of which is to afford facility in lifting goods or packages of any character from shelves or 'high supports upon which they are placed,

and which usually necessitate the use ladder in order to reach them.

My invention consists in a handled stock having projecting from it a tongue adapted to be inserted under the goods to be lifted, and provided with side arms or clamps, which are brought together automatically by the movement of the tongue under the weight of the goods to bind upon the sides of the package.

My invention further consists in the means by which the side arms or clamps arerendered adjustable, thus adapting them for operation on different sizes of goods or packages, andin details of construction and arrangement, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of same. Fig. 3 is a plan of same.

A is the stock of the device, in the lower end of which is fitted the handle B, of any required length. The front of the stock is slotted and has pivoted within it ate the shank c of the flat projecting tongue 0. Through the upper portion of the stock is passed transversely a bar or support, D, upon the ends of which are fitted bearings E, having upwardlyextending pintles e, on which are pivoted the heads f, which carry the side arms Ofa or clamps, 15. These project outwardly from the stock on the same side as the tongue and in a plane slightly above it.

In sockets in the rear ends of the heads f are loosely fitted the rods G, to the other orinner ends of which are pivoted links H, which pass through elongated slots at in the stock and have their'inner endsconnected with a toggle-lever, I, fitted in the stock and actuated by a spring,1, to maintain its normal position. The lower end of this toggle is in contact with the inner end of the shank c of the tongue 0, so that when the tongue is depressed its shank, impinging on the end of the toggle-lever, forces the upper end of said lever backwardl y. This movement of the toggle-- lever carries the links backwardly, and through the rods G effects an axial or pivotal movement of the headsfof the armsor clamps F, whereby these latter are moved inwardly in converging planes, whereby they clamp upon the sides of the goods or packages, as I shall presently more fully describe.

In order to adapt the arms for different widths or sizes of goods or packages to be operated upon, I have the following mechanism: In the lower portion of the stock, which is slotted, as shown at a, is a fixed guide-rod, L, upon which is mounted and adapted to move up and down a bearing, M, having a projecting thumbpiece, at, by which it is operated, and actuated by a spring, at, below, whereby it is held in an elevated position. The bearing is provided with'side lugs or cars, at", in the slotted ends of which are pivoted the lower ends of links N, which extend diagonally upward and have their upper ends connected with the bearings E on the bar or support D, which said bearings are fitted thereon so that they may slide toward each other or be separated.

In the back of the slotted portion a of the stock is fitted a rack, O, with which a springactuated pawl, 0, carried by the bearing M, engages, whereby said bearing may be held in position to which it is adjusted.

The operation of the entire device is as follows: The operator by means of the handle raises the apparatus upto the required height, and, holding the stock A at a slight forward inclination, so as to throw the tongue to an approximately-horizontal plane, inserts said movement, through the links and rods, causes the headsf of the side arms, F, to turn on their pivots, thereby throwing the arms or clamps inwardly against the goods or package, clamping its sides. This clamping effect of the arms remains in force as long as the package rests upon the tongue. As soon, however, as itis relieved the tongue springs upwardly to its proper position and the arms return to their normal position, all under the influence of the spring 1'. \Vhen packages have to be lifted which vary considerably in width and which require the adjustmentof the arms F, the operator releases the pawl o from the rack O, and by means of pressing the thumb piece forces the bearing M downwardly upon its guide-rod, which movement draws down the links N, so as to cause their upper ends to approach each other, thereby forcing inwardly the sliding bearings E, which carry the side arms, F, whereby said side arms are brought together and are adapted for use upon narrow packages. They are held in this position by the re-engagement of the pawl with the rack.

Having thus described my iuvention,wl1at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus for lifting goods from shelves, comprising a stock, a pivoted tongue carried by the stock for passing under the goods, pivoted side arms for embracing the sides of the goods, and the pivoted links between said arms -and the pivoted tongue, whereby as the weight of the goods is imposed upon said tongue the side arms are turned inwardly to embrace the sides of the goods, substantially as herein described.

2. An apparatus for lifting goods from shelves, comprising a stock, a tongue pivoted in said stock for passing under the goods, pivoted arms carried by said stock for em bracing the sides of the goods, links between said arms and the pivoted tongue, whereby when the weight is imposed on said tongue the arms are thrown inwardly to embrace the goods, and a spring for returning the tongue and arms to their positions when the goods are removed from the tongue, substantially as herein described.

3. An apparatus for lifting goods from shelves, comprising a stock, a tongue pivoted in said stock and passing under the goods, pivoted arms carried by the stock for embracing the sides of the goods, links between said arms and the tongue,whereby when the weight is imposed on the latter the former are thrown inwardly to clamp the goods, and a means, comprising the links N, the sliding bearings E and M, the guide-rod, and the holding rack and pawl, for adjusting said arms to or from each other to suit different sizes of goods, substantially as herein described.

4. In an apparatus for lifting goods from shelves, a stock and a tongue for passing under the goods, pivoted in said stock, in combination with a support or bar carried upon the stock, bearings upon said support, arms pivoted upon the bearings for clamping the sides of the goods, a swinging lever in the stock operated upon by the tongue, and rods or links connecting said lever with the pivoted arms, whereby when the weight is imposed on the tongue the arms are thrown inwardly to embrace the goods, substantially as herein described.

5. In an apparatus for removing goods from shelves, a stock and a tongue pivoted in said stock for passing under the goods, in combination with a transverse bar or support carried by the stock, bearings mounted on said support and adapted to slide thereon, side arms for embracing the goods, pivoted upon said bearings, links between said pivoted arms and the tongue, whereby when the weight is imposed on the latter the former turns inwardly to embrace the goods, an adjustable sliding bearing mounted in the stock, and links connecting said bearing with the bearings which carry the arms, whereby said arms are adjusted to or from each other to suit different sizes of goods, substantially as herein described.

6. In an apparatus for lifting goods from shelves, a stock and a transverse bar or support carried thereby, in combination with bearings mounted and adapted to slide on said bar, side arms pivoted upon said bearings for embracing the sides of the goods, and a means for adjusting said arms to or from each other, consisting of the vertically-moving bearing in the stock, having a thumb-piece, a pawl and ratchet for holding said bearing in position, a spring for returning it, and links connecting the bearing with the bearings which carry the arms, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LANNES M. MCLA BEN.

Witnesses:

O. D. COLE, J. H. BLooi). 

